Lady Arabella, but could not locate her. It was only when he saw the old-
fashioned travelling carriage approach and heard the sound of cheering
which went with it, that he realised that Edgar Caswall had arrived.
Then, on looking more closely, he saw that Lady Arabella, dressed as he
had seen her last, was seated beside him. When the carriage drew up at
the great flight of steps, the host jumped down and gave her his hand.

It was evident to all that she was the chief guest at the festivities. It
was not long before the seats on the dais were filled, while the tenants
and guests of lesser importance had occupied all the coigns of vantage
not reserved. The order of the day had been carefully arranged by a
committee. There were some speeches, happily neither many nor long; and
then festivities were suspended till the time for feasting arrived. In
the interval Caswall walked among his guests, speaking to all in a
friendly manner and expressing a general welcome. The other guests came
down from the dais and followed his example, so there was unceremonious
meeting and greeting between gentle and simple.

Adam Salton naturally followed with his eyes all that went on within
their scope, taking note of all who seemed to afford any interest. He
was young and a man and a stranger from a far distance; so on all these
accounts he naturally took stock rather of the women than of the men, and
of these, those who were young and attractive. There were lots of pretty
girls among the crowd, and Adam, who was a handsome young man and well
set up, got his full share of admiring glances. These did not concern
him much, and he remained unmoved until there came along a group of
three, by their dress and bearing, of the farmer class. One was a sturdy
old man; the other two were good-looking girls, one of a little over
twenty, the other not quite so old. So soon as Adam's eyes met those of
the younger girl, who stood nearest to him, some sort of electricity